Resilient tire.



' PATBNTBD NOV. 19, 1907. I. W. HODGSON.

RESILIENT TIRE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 001212. 1906.

/0 A fig-1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

I. W. HODGSON. RBSILIENT TIRE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.12, 1906.

`2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ISAAC WALTER HODGSON, OF MlNNEAPOLIS, MlNNESO'lA,

STATES TENT OFFICE.

ASSGNOR OF ONE-HALF lO EDGAR J. HODGSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND ONE-FOURTH lO PHILIP W. HERZOG, OF Si. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

RESILIEN T TIRE.

Patented'Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed October 12. 1906. Serial No. 338.652.

' of ,the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention has for its object to provide f a resilient wheel rim or tire which will have all of the good features. of a pneumatic tire, but which relies for its resilience on springs y and which may be maintained at much less cost than a pneumatic tire and which, gene erally, is free from the bad features of a pneumatic tire, such as damage by puncp'artly in elevation and lture,liability to explode and difficulty in .re air.

o theabove ends, the invention consists lof the novel devices and combinations of dovices hereinafter described and delined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. A

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view'in side elevation, shoe ing a portion of a Wheel, such an automobile \\'heel, having a resilient rim or tire embodying the several features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 1, but showing the parts on a larger scale than in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical sect ion on the line rc3 of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the resilient rim. Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view looking at several of the yieldingly connected tread sections of `thc improved rim. Fig. 5 is\ a transverse section taken approximately on the line :l :c5 of Fir. 3. Fig. t5 is a transverse section taken on the line an 11; of Fig. 3, with some parts removed; and Fig, T is a detail artly in transverse section, showing one of t 1e .so-called .callis removed from working position. A

Of the parts ofthe wheel, the numeral 1 indicates the hub, the numeral 2 the spokes and the numeral 3 the heavy wooden rim thereof.

Surrounding and rigidly secured to the wheel rnn 3, by means of screws, bolts or Vother suitable devices, (not shown) is a channel-shaped metal rim 4, Ythe flanges of which project outward and laterally beyond the sides of said rim 3.

Seated inthe channel of the metal rim 4 and -forming preferably a continuous lining thereto, is a plurality of spring seats or bases 5 against which are seated radially extended circ-umferentially s aced coiled springs 6. The outer ends of t ie springs 6 bear against spring caps 7 that are formed with concave seats thatl closely lit the semi-spherical por? lions of hollow bearing members 8. The said members 7 and S, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, constitute what correspond to the socket and ball members, respectively,'of ball and socket bearing devices, so that the said members 8 are capable of universal rocking movements with respect to the said members 7.

Each bearing member or head 8 is seated in and has threaded engaoemont with a metallic part 9 of a tread member, preferably havinfr secured thereto a thick outer facing 1() o rubber. These tread members might be constructed entirely of metal, or in part of metal or in Apart of rubber or simil ar material, are herein referred to broadly as tread sections, while the metallic. members of the com )osito tread sections are referred to speci'lically as tread plates. The tread plates 9, at their end portions, are provided with heavy hook lugs 11, and the abutting hook lugs ofthe adjoining plates are connected by coupling links l2. The said tread seetionsare thus connected in an endless series and in such manner that they are ca able of pivotal or rocking movements Wit 1 respect to each other, both in the lane of the Wheel and in planes transverse y of the 4wheel. The rubber facings 10 are detachably but iirmly secured to the corresponding tread plates 9, preferably by means of anchor straps 13 having threaded ends la that 'work through retaining lugs .15 on the sides of said' tread plates, said threaded ends 14 beiner provided with nuts 16 outward ol' the said lugs 15, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

At one side, the treadp'lates 9 are shown as provided with inwardly projecting, inte- 45 shank-31 that alines with a radial passage 32 cut through the rims 3 and land base plate .g1-ally formed guardlilanges 17, and at the.

other sides with detachably secured guard -flanges 18, preferably secured thereto by screws 19 (see Figs. 2 and 5). .Y

Annular guard plates 20 of thin 'sheet 'metal are secured to thev ilanges of fthe metallic rim 4,' preferably Aby means fof nutted bolts 21, spacing blocks 22 being interposed .between the said parts, as best `in Fig.

shown in Fig. 2. The annular guard lates 20 are preferably made m sections, ass own Their outer edges engage irlc- 1 tional with the inner surfaces of the guard `flanges 17' and 18 and together therewith tightly inclose the 'springs and other portions of the tire.

As already stated', the links 12 perinit the treadsections to move laterally at an angle with respect to each other. For limiting such angular movements l have shown supplemental or stop'lmks 23, preferablyl con- 4-structed'oi a wire cable, the same being located one on each side of the several coupling links 12 and being engaged with hooks 24 on the tread plates 9, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 1 ln running oversnow or over muddy roads, increased ltraction is desirable, and

' to this end l provide the tread sections; with adjustable calks that, are adapted to be moved from inoperative to operative positions, and vice versa, through the tread sections. vThese calks are preferably arranged in aplairs, the rongs o r ates 25 being integr y forme j ase plate 26that lits within the corres ondmg hollow head or bearing member 8.

e base plate 26 is formed with a rectangu-A lar or ,dovetail channel 27, in which is swiveled the enlarged head 28 of an adjusting screw 29. 'The adjusting screw 29 works with threaded engagement in an.inwardly rojecting sleeve 30 of the corresponding head or bearing member 8. At its inner'end, the adjusting screw 29 has asmalll angular or spring base 5. The calks 25 work orare adapted to be adjusted through passages 33 formediu the members 9 and 10 of the tread -sections and in metal bearing platesy 34 that are seated against the ends' of the correspondin caps or bearing members 8.4 By

means o a suitable tool inserted through one Of the alined s ank 31, thev adjusting screw 29 may be rotated so as to move the calk 25 inward or outward as desired'. The said screws will, of course, hold the respective calks in anylposition in which they may be set. l e tension of the springs 6 may be varied by adjustments of the caps or bearing members 8 in the respective tread plates 9.

To afford means for eecting such adjustv.ments of the heads 8- when the tread' memor rigid y connected to the` passages 32 and engaged with the- SMOG bers 9and plates 34 are' removed, the said 4 heads are rovided with internal notches with whic a suitable tool may be engaged.

A tire or resilient rim constructed as above described isv not only strong and durable and, hence, maintainable at small.

cost, but has thedesired resilience necessary to relieve the machine from the usual jars incident to rough roads and has su-[lcient lateral flexibility 'to relieve the Wheels from intensestrains when an obstruction such as a rock or track rail, for example,'are struck a glancing blow, or at an angle. Furthermore, the component parts of the vtire are capable of being easilyrepaired in case of.

. accident.

What l claim is:

1. A resilient tire comprising an inner rim, a plurality of tread sections, links arranged in a plane approximately parallel vto the plane ofthe connected tread sections and yieldinglyconnecting the tread sections in an endless series around said rim with freedom for movements in the plane oi the Wheel and transverselyv thereof, and a multi licity l of coiled springs compressedbetween t e said rim andtread sections and exerting outward -pressure thereon, substantially as described. i 2. ln a resilient tire, the combination With an inner rim, of a multiplicity of tread sections andv interlocking devices yieldingly connecting the same, and a multlplicity of Icoiled springs compressed between the said member of each ball and. socket device,

whereby the saidjtread sections are mounted for universal rocking movement, substantially, as described.

4. In a resilient tire, the combination with individual tread sections having inturned .flanges atthe sides of the tire, springs interposed between said rim and said tread sections, and laterally yielding annular guard lates' secured to the sides of said rimand. ictionally engaging with-she ilanges of said tread sections, substantially as described. 5. In a' resilient tire, the'combination with an inner rim, of a plurality of individual tread sections yand links flexibly connecting the same, springs compressed between said rim and said tread sections, individual pliable facings applied to the outer faces'of said tread sections, and anchor straps passed 130 Y a rim, of a plurality of yieldingly'connected through said facil'igs and secured to the reand coil-edI springs compressed between said lspective tread s'ectlons, substantlally kas derun and the-said tread sections, substanscribed. tially as described.

6. In a resilient tire, the combination with In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 an inner rim, of a plurality of individual in presence of two witnesses.

tread sections, linksl ieldinfrly connecting a said tread sections in an bendless Aseries ISAAC WALTER HODGSON' around said rim, and laterally spaced sup- Witnesses:

v .plemental stop links connecting-the said MALIE HoEL,

10 tread sections on opposite sides of said links, F. D. MERCHANT. 

